Heartwarming traditions often make the holiday season the favorite time of year for many people. Those traditions include:

Picking out the perfect Christmas tree

Posing for a family picture

Secret gift exchanges

Baking cookies

Visiting with old college friends

Travelling to visit family

This time of year can also be very demanding. Trying to carry out family traditions, as well as dealing with family drama, can be stressful and overwhelming. And don’t forget it’s your company’s year end!

With the Thanksgiving feast behind us, it’s time for many people to start decorating their homes for Christmas. This year, the above-average fall temperatures here in Wisconsin inspired many homeowners to light up their yards and homes with Christmas decorations. My neighborhood is definitely more decorated than in past years.

Over the years, my daughters have repeatedly asked my wife and me for a pet. Unfortunately for them, the answer had always been “no” for a number of reasons. Probably the biggest is the time commitment.

When I was growing up, one of our family traditions was a trip to our local pumpkin patch. I always loved trying to find the best pumpkin, or at least one better than my brother’s. It was even more exciting when I found a pumpkin attached to a vine. This meant I could take my jackknife out of its holster and use it to cut the vine.

Valentine’s Day is that special holiday where you can show somebody how much you care. Spending this Valentine’s Day is expected to reach an all-time high of $19.7 billion with consumers spending on average of $146.84.

Pets are a big part of many families. According to the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), more than 43 million households own a dog. That means, as the holidays approach, many dogs will be going on road trips. Depending on where you travel, allowing your dog to sit on your lap while driving may be illegal. Some states consider this a form of distracted driving and require pets to be in proper car restraints.

As Thanksgiving approaches, holiday decorations will begin lighting our neighborhoods. With the dark days of winter here, I enjoy the extra light. It may also be the last time of the year to clean out leaves from your gutters.